Full Two-Round NBA Mock Draft Pre-March Madness

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TUCSON, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 14: Nico Mannion #1 of the Arizona Wildcats in action in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McKale Center on December 14, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. The Gonzaga Bulldogs won 84 – 80. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. PG, Arizona. Nico Mannion. 13. New Orleans Pelicans. player. 69

The Pelicans are pretty set for the future, and if all goes well, this will be their last Lottery pick for years. Zion-Lonzo-Ingram is a more than formidable ‘Big 3’ for the future, and any pick here would be supplemental.

Thus, they take the best player on the board, who here happens to be Arizona guard Nico Mannion.

Mannion’s freshman season has been a disappointment, and has fallen since being a near-consensus top-five pick before the season began. The 6’3 guard has shot just 32 percent on his nearly five three-point attempts per game, and was projected to rack up more than the 5.4 assists he’s averaging.

His ability to cut through defenses and get to the rim is unquestioned, but nearly every other aspect of his game is under a microscope.

For the Pelicans, it’s a low-risk move with potential for a very high reward.

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